My guess is that it is a long term plan. The mandatory jump in the SP for juniors next year will be the 3Lz. As most of these ladies will be in the JGP again next year, they might be wanting to focus on getting a consistent 3F+3T, as they will also be able to use that in the SP next year as well.

Well, it's only a theory, but it makes sense to me!
It's a good plan, though. The difference between a 3F+3T isn't huge (especially if one has a flutz) and it would serve them well to keep the same(ish) jump layout, instead of having to learn another combination over the off-season.

How small was Seraphima last season if after a big growth spurt she is only 151 cm?

She has grown a lot, she was 140 cm and now is 151 cm. And her body changed, she was a baby last season and now she is a teenage girl

Originally Posted by sky_fly20

she probably cant jump that atm, she is experiencing growth issues and seems to have affacted her badly, horrible bent knees landing technique
Sakhanovich a month ago at test skate was falling all over the place

One of the specialists who works with skaters on their physical condition (IIRC, he worked with Yagudin and Sasha Cohen) said last year that Serafima's landings don't have bent knees issue even though it looks like it at first, she just has strong legs and takes landing position very quickly, he also said it's actually good for the jumps

Originally Posted by oleada

Well, it's only a theory, but it makes sense to me!
It's a good plan, though. The difference between a 3F+3T isn't huge (especially if one has a flutz) and it would serve them well to keep the same(ish) jump layout, instead of having to learn another combination over the off-season.

Sakhanovich's lutz is questionable, even though she didn't recieve any 'e' in Russia it might be different at the JGP. Her coach, Alina Pisarenko, worked(es?) as a technical specialist at the local competitions and knows the rules very well, I think she saw a possibility of 'e' and decided to change the combination, especially considering 3Lz is a required jump next season